after the the way we performed the last 2 seasons where our profile was right at the top of domestic and European rugby yet we still can't seem to attract top end signings and seem to be slipping back to the bad old days of hoping some player is worth a punt I went to newbury races yesterday with the same idea and only one of my 7 punts payed off,it rarely happens.

Blade Thomson isn’t a top end signing?

Blade is a very high quality signing and for overall level of play is up there with Barclay - what he cannot bring yet is leadership which we are struggling with at the moment. When things go wrong we don't seem to have anyone who can assess, gather the forwards around and adjust. Last night's game was crying out for calm leadership - firstly Rhys should have kicked the penalty when the lad got red. Then we should have played territory and tried to put together phases. Instead we enter into a frantic high tempo game on their terms. Clearly the penalty count crucified us so why not let them have the ball trust our defence and keep squeaky clean.

The WRU should be looking long and hard at the situation with the Dragons. They have some very good young guys who don't seem to be being developed properly - Brown, Keddie, Griffiths, Wainwright are all forwards who would add to any other regions' squads. At 20's level Brown & Keddie were as good if not better than their Irish counterparts who are now tearing up trees at Leinster - why???? It has to be coaching surely.

We have to give credit where it's due, how many people had heard of Beirne or Ball for example before they arrived here??

It's still relatively early to be judging some players that arrived this season - its not exactly been a settled squad playing week after week.

as I said haydn,punts they don't always pay off beirne has gone and jake is either with wales or injured we need people who aren't looking at us as a vehicle for another team and going to do a job.a tia tia would be fantastic.

30th june 1986- 30th june 2011.25 years roofing,i wouldn't call that dodgy.

At this point in time we are an injury away from being in big trouble at 10. Owen would challenge Rhys hard for the starting jersey and would push Parkes & Asquith at 12. Therefore from a team strengthening point of view he would be ideal.

As for wingers we currently have Jonny & Steff who are starters, Prydie, Ioan, Baldwin, Conbeer & Tomi Lewis. If all remain with us a wing is not a prioirity particularly when you see how weak we are in the forwards.

Eh?A no.10 is THE most important signing we can make this season (besides a coach) We just can't rely on Patchell, he's either with Wales or injured. He's so fragile we can't go a whole season again without a 10 of serious quality going toe to toe with Patch for the shirt.

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